Barossa Valley Day Tour

This majestic bluestone winery and vineyard property is a living testament to the colourful history and pioneering spirit attached to Australia’s pre-eminent wine region. Now, thanks to the passion and dedication of its owners, the Geber family, this icon Barossa estate is celebrated amongst the top wineries in Australia as it celebrates 130 years of winemaking in 2020.

St Hugo sets a new benchmark for wine tasting in Australia. Immerse yourself in the St Hugo story with the Tour & Tasting experience, which includes a tour of the vineyards and cork trees, followed by a tutored tasting in the private underground tasting room.

The Kalleske family have been farming and growing grapes since 1853 near the village of Greenock. They are one of the region’s leading grape-growing families consistently growing some of the Barossa’s best quality grapes. After six generations of growing grapes, winemaker and seventh generation family member, Troy Kalleske, together with his brother Tony, established the Kalleske winery and made the first ‘Kalleske’ wine. The winery is situated on the family estate where traditional winemaking techniques ensure the vineyard realises its full potential as wine.

The vineyard is managed by Troy’s and Tony’s parents, John and Lorraine, and brother, Kym. John has over forty years experience tending the vineyard. The 120 acre vineyard is planted to Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Mataro, Petit Verdot, Durif, Viognier, Tempranillo and Zinfandel. Vines vary in age with the oldest remaining vineyard dating back to 1875 and an overall average vine age of about 50 years. The vineyard is low yielding with grapes grown organically and biodynamically and the winery is also certified biodynamic/organic.

Seppeltsfield was established in the Barossa Valley by Joseph and Johanna Seppelt just 15 years after the European settlement of South Australia. Steeped in rich Barossan heritage, the estate is considered a true national treasure which helped shape the history of the Australian wine industry.

In 1850, Joseph Seppelt, an emigrant of Silesia, purchased 158 acres of land in the Hundred of Nuriootpa from Hermann Kook, farmer of Tanunda, at £1 an acre. Designating it ‘Seppeltsfield’, Joseph’s original intention was to farm tobacco, with later Seppelt generations concentrating the estate’s efforts on grape growing and winemaking.

The family’s business grew rapidly in the late 1800s, feeding demand from England for wines and spirits out of ’imperial preference’, as well as the supply of medicinal Brandy to Australian hospitals.

Seppeltsfield flourished into the 20th century, as part of the Seppelt family’s expanding interests in the liquor industry, which grew to include vineyards and wineries across various Australian regions. Along with wine, the Seppelt stable included spirits such as Brandy, Gin and Vermouth, as well as an assortment of cordials, vinegars and essences.

Whilst the Seppelt expansions of Great Western and Rutherglen (Victoria) were highly prized, it was always the original home of Seppeltsfield in the Barossa that was regarded as the jewel in the family crown.

Regarded as one of Australia’s most successful wine dynasties, the Seppelt family maintained ownership of their wine interests, including Seppeltsfield, until 1985. B Seppelt & Sons, as it was then known, went on to evolve into a period of corporate ownership which extended nearly three decades.